"The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go."

― Shannon L. Alder.

Chloe's POV.

"Blake!" I squeal as the shock leaves my face and is replaced by happiness. He pulls me out of my seat into a tight hug making me smile. Dan stands up smiling as well as Blake releases me from the hug.

"Hey Daniel," they greet each other before my brother nudges me to sit down before scooting close next to me. It's been so long since we saw each other last, "How's my little sis doing?"

"Oh! Suddenly you care now?" I smack his arm off my shoulder before crossing my arms and notice Dan exchanging funny looks with Blake, "I'm sorry! I know it has been a week since I last called, but you out of everyone knows how hard it is being a lawyer sometimes,"

"I know but that's still no reason enough," I sigh as he rests his arm over my shoulders once again but this time, I just sink into his embrace. Oh, how much I missed my brother.

"I know but listen, I took a break from work for the next month. Do you think you can let me crash at your place?" he asks me with a huge grin now plastered across his face.

My face lights up at what he said, "It's home, idiot! You're asking me as if you're some stranger,"

"I just wanted to annoy you," he says kissing my forehead with a smile while Dan waves his hands in front of me, "I'm still here!"

A laugh erupts from my lips at his childish behavior, "I'm sorry!" I say as he starts being dramatic and stands up.

"Fine! But I'm having your muffin too," he says sitting back adjusting his geeky glasses and I ruffle his brown curls smiling, "Order a few more actually, I'm starving!"

Blake deadpans making me shake my head at these two guys, "Wait, how did you know that I was here?"

"Hmm... I messaged Daniel," he says, scratching the back of his neck making me roll my eyes at both of them. "Smile!"

Dan takes us by surprise as he points a camera to both of us and Blake pulls me closer for the picture. With bright smiles on our faces, we take a few more pictures will Dan in them.

Pictures are the most important things I have in life because life isn't always this great and it's only right to capture those few moments into photographs.

~•~•~•

"So any news from Zach?" the plate I'm scrubbing almost slips out of my hands and I quickly snap my head to notice Blake removing the envelope off the fridge. "Blake! Don't open that!"

"Okay," he says after observing my reaction for a few seconds. He knew Zach never contacted me back since he left two years ago and I also know that Blake despises Zach for his sudden disappearance.

"Why don't you just open it? I've seen it attached to your fridge since forever, he doesn't deserve you hanging onto the hope that he'll come back someday. He clearly moved on, so should you," I close my eyes taking deep breaths in an attempt to find a rational answer to why I never opened that envelope.

"I moved on, it's just a stupid envelope Blake," shaking my head, I wash the last dish and wipe my hands dry with a kitchen towel. I turn around just to notice my brother raising his eyebrow at me, he knew me too well already.

I walk up to the island counter and grab a French fry out of the Mc. Donald's container that Blake was eating from, "Stupid huh? Are you sure about that Chloe?"

"Ugh! Stop being so inquisitive about this envelope. It's just a letter that the jerk of my best friend left behind, probably apologizing for leaving me hanging. I don't need his apology Blake and I sure don't want to read that letter until the day I feel the need to," I snatch the envelope from my brother's hand with annoyance clearly written on my face.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes and I shake my head before Blake walks around the counter and pulls me into his embrace.

"Don't be. You're just looking out for me and I overreacted," I sigh looking down at the envelope in my hands with Blake's arms still resting around me. I wrap my arms around him and breathe out in comfort, I missed having someone around. Daniel always kept me company but he had a life of his own too.

My phone goes off breaking our moment, "It's mom," Blake says with a smile as I grab my phone and answer the facetime call. Snowy sits down next to my feet making me smile.

"Hey Mom!" we both say in unison and Brandon joins the screen. Damn, the cool stepdad he tries to be, "Oh, this is going to be interesting," Blake whispers through the smile he's trying so hard to keep on.

"How are you guys doing?" Mom asks while Brandon tries to divert her attention.

"You know, we're just catching up and having a great time," I say trying to ignore the laugh bubbling up while Blake steps aside and makes faces, "I wish I could join you guys but this trip is going to last another week and then I've got to get back to work,"

"We know mom, just enjoy yourself. We'll try clearing up our schedules for a weekend once you're back," Blake finally says and I smile. Mom and dad divorced quite a few years ago and we always only wanted them to be happy even if it was with someone else. Dad has been an ass to us at times and mom finally got someone who cares so we're just trying to get on board with Brandon as much as we could.

"Take care of each other, I love you," she always blamed herself for not having enough time with us but she is the reason we both are living the best lives we could right now.

"Love you, mom," we both say in unison once again while I give her a flying kiss making her smile. "Bye!" she says waving her hand with Brandon calling her in the background and we wave her goodbye before she hung up the call.

"At least he didn't ruin the call," Blake chuckles grabbing the bottle of water, "I'm just happy that mom's happy,"

I shrug making him smile, "We both are or else we would've never tolerated a person like Brandon," I smile shaking my head at how true his words are.

Brandon was introduced by dad at one of the company parties and well who knew, he would be the one for mom after dad ditched us, "Hey, want to watch money heist?"

Blake asks me loud enough from the living room while scrolling through the Netflix menu, "Sure! I'll get the food and drinks," I say with a smile dancing on my face. Snowy tugs at my pajamas making me lean down to ruffle his fur.

"Now go, bug my brother," I smile patting his back as he wags his tail as if he understood what I said and made his way to the living room. I stand up before washing my hands once again before opening up the takeaway bag and placing the boxes of all the Chinese food Blake ordered in a tray. Another bag contained just French fries from Mc. Donald's making me giggle at the amount of food. Blake and his never-ending appetite.

Removing the bag, I find the envelope once again and sigh, "I need to hide you away," I whisper to myself holding the letter in front of me.

"Chloe! I'm starving!" Blake's voice gets my attention and I walk up to the fridge to return the letter to its place. Biting my lower lip while controlling an urge to open it, I turn away grabbing the tray of food before heading into the living room.

Zach needs to get locked away from my mind and life, Blake is right, he doesn't deserve me waiting for him. As much as I denied waiting for him, deep down, I always just wanted him to come back to give me a reasonable explanation for all that he did.

But life's unfair, Chloe and Zach doesn't care about you so, do yourself a favor and move on.

~•~•~•

"Ugh!" I groan as the rays of sunlight fall right onto my face making me squint my eyes shut. Turning to my side, I slowly open my eyes as the sun hit my back, and snowy jumps onto the bed, snuggling next to me making me smile and embrace my loving dog.

I remove the duvet covering my body and sit up before pulling my messy hair into a bun, "Breakfast is ready little sis! Wake up already," Blake says with a cheery voice, opening the door of my room.

"Good morning," I smile at him and get off the bed while snowy pounces onto Blake making him laugh, "Good morning you both,"

He says still playing with snowy while I walk into the washroom to brush my teeth. I sigh looking at my tired eyes once again for the hundredth time this week, I need to stop binge-watching and binge reading at night.

I sweep my long bangs aside and grab the bobby pin to pin them in place. Placing my toothbrush back in the stand, I splash some cold water in an attempt to wake my half-asleep self.

Stepping out, I notice that both Blake and snowy left the room and walk up to my nightstand to grab my phone. Well, the messages are empty as always except for the mailbox that is full of new contracts for Dan and me.

The smell of bacon hits my nose making me bite my lower involuntarily, damn it's so nice to have someone cook for me sometimes, "Here you go,"

Blake places a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon with toast on the island counted and I put my phone aside getting onto the barstool, "Thank you!" I squeal in happiness as I take my first bite. We had countless days back in high school where we both just spent time at home baking and watching just about any Disney movie.

"So how's Hailey doing?" I ask him referring to his long time girlfriend.

"Well she's doing great, right now she's just on a trip to Africa. Damn, I miss her, it's been half a month already," he whines making me pat his back shaking my head. Hailey was part of several UNICEF programs which meant she was away at least two months a year and well Blake being the baby he is sometimes, gets all whiny about it. But again it's that dedication she has for stuff like this that has his head over heels for her.

We finish our breakfast in silence before I grab both our plates and put it in the dishwasher, "Want to tag along to the studio today?"

I ask him, pouring the coffee out of the French press into two mugs and head over to the fridge to grab the carton of milk knowing that Blake likes his coffee with milk, "Sure why not and I noticed a new fancy restaurant on my way yesterday so we could go there for lunch,"

I nod with a chuckle, "I haven't eaten at a fancy restaurant in a while so let's do it, a sibling date," winking at him I smile knowing how much this meant to us.

He lets out a laugh guzzling down his coffee, it's been so long since I felt this content before, "Let's make the best of my stay here,"

Oh, I sure plan on making more memories with my brother. I missed him too much to not try to make up for the past year that we couldn't meet up much.

~•~•~•

Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying the book so far, please do let me know your thoughts in the comments. And if you do like the book, do vote, comment and share!

Have a great day or night! ❤️